RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN
L ast season, the Rumson-Fair Haven
Regional High School field hockey team fell one game shy of the Shore Conference Tournament finals. The program continues to seek its first conference title. This time around, the Bulldogs believe they have what it takes.
Rumson-Fair Haven is off to quick start, with eight wins and two draws through the first month of the season. Seven starters from last year’s 19-win team are back, including seniors Catie Ebner and Peyton McCauley.
The Bulldogs recently shut out Shore Conference Class A Central rival Raritan High School, 9-0, thanks in part to four goals from McCauley. Junior Madison Maguire added two scores and three assists. Kara Dixon, Makenna Maguire and Abigael Donohue each contributed a goal.
Head coach Julie Vaccarelli said Rumson Fair Haven has shown noticeable improvement so far, and the team must continue to make progress as it eyes a postseason title.
“In the beginning, it took us some time to figure out where everyone was,” Vaccarelli said. “We stressed doing stuff off the ball, and they’re doing a better job at supporting each other on the field.”
She added that Rumson-Fair Haven’s depth keeps all of the players on their toes.
“Our depth is a good thing because everyone has to work hard to keep their starting jobs,” she said.
The elusive Shore Conference Tournament championship nearly came two years ago, when Rumson-Fair Haven made its first appearance in the finals. The Bulldogs lost to perennial rival Shore Regional High School, 2-1.
In 2013, the second-seed Bulldogs were favored to face the Blue Devils in the championship game for a second consecutive year. However, Freehold High School edged past Rumson-Fair Haven, 3-2, in the semifinals.
Vaccarelli said her players are determined to go all the way this year.
“Talent-wise, we’re there,” the fifthyear coach said. “But it will take a lot of extra work and discipline. I think we can do it.”
Rumson-Fair Haven got an early test this season against Shore Regional (7-1-2). The Bulldogs tied Shore Regional, 1-1, in a rain-shortened meeting last month.
Inside the division, the Bulldogs look poised to win another A Central title. Rumson Fair Haven defeated Manasquan High School by a score of 5-0 last week, with goals from Dixon, Donohue and Madison Maguire.
Rumson-Fair Haven was scheduled to face another A Central opponent, St. John Vianney High School, on Oct. 7. A non-divisional game against St. Rose High School was slated for Oct. 10. Rumson- Fair Haven has games against Middletown High School South and division foe Holmdel High School coming up.
The season’s toughest challenges are still ahead of them, and Vaccarelli said the Bulldogs can’t take any teams for granted.
“We can’t just expect to be in the [Shore Conference Tournament] final,” she said.